Eagles to Play Washington Huskies in 2011

Oct 06, 2009

Eastern will also play Oregon State next season as EWU
continues scheduling of regional NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
opposition

Continuing its recent trend of scheduling Pacific 10 Conference
opponents, the Eastern Washington University football team has
agreed to play the University of Washington on Sept. 3, 2011, in
Seattle, Wash. In addition, the Eagles will play next season at
Oregon State on Sept. 4, 2010.

The Eagles and Huskies have never met, with Washington beginning
its football program in 1889. Eastern is in its 101st season dating
back to 1901. Washington is a member of the NCAA Football Bowl
Subdivision (FBS), while Eastern is a member of the NCAA Football
Championship Subdivision (FCS) after competing as a member of the
NAIA for most of its history.

"We truly appreciate the opportunity to play the University of
Washington in 2011," said Eastern's Athletic Director Bill
Chaves. "During these challenging economic times, we
have looked to reduce expenses wherever possible and by playing one
of our non-conference games in-state will no doubt help to achieve
that objective. In addition, coach (Steve) Sarkisian, (UW
Athletic Director) Scott Woodward and (Senior Associate A.D.) O.D.
Vincent should be commended for their willingness to keep guarantee
revenues within the state."

Eastern's game against Oregon State will be the third meeting
between the two schools, with the Beavers winning 21-19 in 2000
and 56-17 in 2006. The 2000 meeting was the first game of the
head coaching career of Paul Wulff, who is now head coach at
Washington State University.

Following a 59-7 loss earlier this season to then 10th-ranked
California, Eastern is now 0-4 versus members of the Pacific 10
Conference. The Eagles are 7-18 all-time versus FBS teams.

Later this month, on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. Pacific time, Eastern
hosts Portland State at Qwest Field in Seattle in the "Showdown on
the Sound." The Eagles are currently ranked 14th in FCS, with
records of 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference.

The game in Seattle is believed to be the first time in
Eastern's football history that it has played a game in Seattle.
The Eagles will play their first game in the Puget Sound area since
Oct. 30, 1982, when Eastern won at the University of Puget Sound in
Tacoma.

There are nearly 11,000 Eastern alumni who reside in the Puget
Sound area in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. More than 16,000
reside west of the Cascade Mountains. Among current Eastern
students, nearly 1,500 are from King, Snohomish and Pierce
counties, and a total of nearly 2,500 are from cities west of the
Cascade Mountains.

Eagles Versus The Pacific 10 Conference --
Since 1982 when it became a member of the NCAA Football
Championship Subdivision, Eastern is now 7-18 all-time versus
Football Bowl Subdivision teams. A 35-17 win over Connecticut on
Sept. 8, 2001, snapped a five-game losing streak versus FBS foes.
Against the Pacific 10 Conference, EWU is 0-4. Here is Eastern's
complete list of games versus FBS members since 1983.